#itchiness

Last night The Itchies™ did not play fair and struck when I was 90% asleep which includes the part of my brain where I keep my self control and I think we can all agree thats bullshit.

It’s the kind of itchy wound that does not improve once you itch it. It wants more. It’s the kind of itch that eggs you on more and more and I was obliging because it fuckin’ tricked me.

So anyway I was scrabbling and scratching when a neuron finally fired on a severe delaying informing me that I should not be doing all this itching and instead I started sleepily slapping at my leg trying to tame the now blazing wildfire of itchiness and go back to sleep.

Diet- foods that are rich in omegas to hydrate the skin, ample calcium and proteins to support the feather growth, anti-inflammatory foods can help too. General nutrition, making sure they have a good diet meeting their needs.

Steam - usually running a hot shower and bringing them in to the bathroom to sit in the humid room to hydrate the skin.

Baths- cold baths can help reduce inflammation and itchiness as well as hydrate the skin

Topical treatments- some folks swear by aloe but vets will also make medicated creams that can be rubbed in to the affected area to reduce itchiness if it’s a serious enough problem. Be wary of things you need to apply to their skin, if you get it on their feathers they may obsessively preen the area to remove the residue which could worsen the problem. Oftentimes they may be used in conjunction with cones/ sweaters.

Seriously, get some cheap rolled oats that are not mixed with anything. Put that shit in a sock, and go to your bathroom and turn on the tub faucet and get that water hot.

You are gonna tie that sock to the faucet so the water is running through the oatmeal in the sock. I secure it with a hair tie around the faucet.

The water will become grey/white ish and cloudy- we want that! Fill the tub with the sock in place. Feel free to periodically squeeze the built up water out of the sock. You’ll see white creamy substance (that’s what she said) come out- that’s our little miracle skin soother from the oats. It will make your skin SO smooth and calm any itching or rash.

I like to add a few drops of a safe essential oil to my bath for smell.